[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 44 (Thursday, March 29, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMETNS

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PURDUE UNIVERSITY AND UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS

 Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, two years ago I rose to commend 
Purdue University's women's basketball team for winning the 1999 
National Collegiate Athletic Association basketball championship. Today 
I again rise to honor the Lady Boilermakers for again making a trip to 
the NCAA Final Four. And this year, I also want to honor the women's 
basketball team of the University of Notre Dame as Indiana is 
exceptionally proud to have not one, but two women's basketball teams 
reaching the 2001 NCAA Final Four.
  Notre Dame last represented Indiana in the women's NCAA Final Four in 
1997. This year the Notre Dame women have achieved an exceptional sixth 
consecutive tournament appearance and eighth overall tournament 
appearance under Head Coach Muffet McGraw. Coach McGraw and All-
American, Big East Player of the Year Ruth Riley have led the team to 
an outstanding 32-2 record, a school high for victories in one season.
  Purdue's women have persevered through adversity to achieve success 
as they suffered the loss of team member Tiffany Young in a 1999 
traffic accident. Team members experienced other personal losses and 
serious injuries, yet with skill and determination they have become the 
first team to reach the Final Four under three coaches: Lin Dunn in 
1994, Carolyn Peck in 1999, and now current Coach Kristy Curry. Coach 
Curry, Big Ten Player of the Year Katie Douglas, and the rest of the 
Lady Boilermakers hold an impressive 30-6 record.
  We celebrate the dedication of these women, their victories, and the 
tradition of sportsmanship and excellence present throughout Indiana. 
We send these two teams our best wishes as they proceed to their 
respective semifinal games.

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